The West Virginia University Wind Symphony, the University’s premier concert band, will present a concert Friday, Feb. 13, featuring special guest conductors from the 36th Annual Invitational High School Honor Bands event being held at the Creative Arts Center.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the CAC and will be conducted by John Hendricks III and Dearl J. Drury.

Hendricks is the conductor of the Wind Symphony and also serves as director of bands at WVU and assistant dean of the College of Creative Arts.

Drury is assistant director bands at WVU, and director of the WVU Marching Band, the Basketball Pep Band, the Symphonic Band and the Concert Band.

In addition, special guest conductors include: David R. Holsinger, award-winning composer and conductor from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee; O. Richard Bundy, of The Pennsylvania State School of Music and director of the nationally renowned Penn State Marching Blue Band; and Mark Palmer, director of bands at University High School in Morgantown, West Virginia, and director of the award-wining UHS Marching Band, UHS Symphonic Winds and UHS Jazz Ensemble. Palmer also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education from WVU.

The guest conductors of this concert are also guest conductors for the 36th Annual Invitational High School Honor Bands event, which brings to campus more than 350 talented high school students from West Virginia and surrounding regions for a three-day event of rehearsals, master classes and concerts.

The 50-member WVU Wind Symphony is a select group of the finest wind and percussion performers within the University. Membership is earned through audition. The Wind Symphony performs at a near-professional level presenting at least four concerts each year comprised of the finest classical and contemporary wind literature. ��

The Feb. 13 Wind Symphony Concert program will feature:

“Festivo” by Edward Gregson is a lively concert opener by this British composer. The piece is structured in a rondo form and features several solos before ending in a “blaze of color.”
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“Lincolnshire Posy” by Percy Grainger is a six-movement work based on folksongs from the Lincolnshire area of England. Grainger’s setting, combined with his trademark scoring techniques, make this this one of the truly landmark works written for the modern wind band.
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“Symphonic Dance No.3” (Fiesta) by Clifton Williams depicts the pageantry of Latin American celebrations including street bands, bullfights, and bright costumes.
The wind band music of Clifton Williams is widely acclaimed and has become basic repertory for bands around the world.�

“Chester” by William Schuman is the finale of a three-movement worked entitled “New England Triptych.” It is based on a 1778 American Revolutionary War anthem by William Billings, who is often regarded as America’s first choral composer.
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“Consider the Uncommon Man,” by David R. Holsinger, was written as a tribute piece dedicated to a dear friend of the composer — a person who impacted a generation of instrumental musicians. The piece concludes with a peaceful rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
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“The Rakes of Mallow” (from “Irish Suite”) by Leory Anderson, the final movement from Anderson’s “Irish Suite,” was first composed for the Boston Pops Orchestra and conductor Arthur Fielder and was later adapted into a shorter version for band. This movement makes a terrific concert closer because of its changing tonality and quickening tempo.�

For tickets and information, contact the WVU Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.

-WVU-

cl/2/11/15

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.

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